Michael J. Esser

Lawyer Partner

Georg Jacobs is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Advertising Law, Information Technology Law and Intellectual Property Law. Georg, who practices law in Düsseldorf, Germany, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Georg is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Christoph Barth is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Competition / Antitrust Law and Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice. Christoph, who practices law in Düsseldorf, Germany, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christoph is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Martin Wirtz works in all fields of intellectual property matters, with a particular emphasis on trade mark, competition, and copyright law, including litigation. A further focus of his work is patent infringement proceedings. His clients include large and medium-sized firms as well as international companies and associations from a wide variety of different areas. Martin Wirtz studied law at the University of Passau, the University of Freiburg, the University of Cologne, and at Queens' Colle...

Thomas Kerkhoff is partner in our Düsseldorf office. For many years he has been advising clients on intellectual property law. His work includes advice on trademarks, their protection and their realisation. In cooperation with accountants and business economists he is regularly involved in the taxational assessment of trademarks. His work also includes all aspects of copyright protection, designs and unfair trading. He also does litigation in cases of intellectual property infringements ...

Helmut Balthasar is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Restructuring and Insolvency Law. Helmut, who practices law in Cologne, Germany, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Helmut is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Dr Karl Friedrich Dumoulin primarily advises companies on issues of national and international commercial law in their day-to-day business (supply and service agreements, cooperation and distribution agreements, questions relating to competition law and IP law, in particular trademark applications, licence agreements). Dr Dumoulin also represents his clients before courts, offices and courts of arbitration in these areas. In particular, Dr Dumoulin specialises in the field of financial servic...

Arnt Göppert is a lawyer and partner at Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner. He has been working in the corporate law and M&A practice of Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner's Cologne office since 2013. Arnt Göppert is a transaction specialist advising clients on corporate acquisitions and disposals, corporate actions and financing. His clients include owner-managed companies as well as international funds, listed companies and financial institutions. A particula...

Achim Kirchfeld is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Achim, who practices law in Düsseldorf, Germany, has been recognized since 2011. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Achim is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kirsten Placke is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law. Kirsten, who practices law in Düsseldorf, Germany, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kirsten is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.